A tough game for sure. I wish we tested ourselves a bit more during pre-season. For me it's not just about fitness. We mostly choose to play lower league teams, and whilst it's good to build that winning mentality, we haven't really gone up against strong opposition (West Ham aside). I think that it is also important to play against teams stronger than you so that you can see where you are in terms of quality and I wish we had more fixtures like that.
I don't think you can ever really get a good idea where you are by playing friendlies so I think all they are good for is fitness.
I think a draw would be a reasonable start, but i have a funny feeling we will sneak a win against a fulham side suffering a relegation hangover. In terms of line up, not to many shocks normal faces with either mings or parr replacing cressy, midfield will probably be ando, skuse, hyam, tabb. With murphs and badger up top. Would like to see more pace in midfield, but its not a bad line up.
Parr to replace Cressy is a must, MM will probably start with Murphy and Nouble up front, although I'd rather see Badger partner Murphy...Mick will play defensive for this one, it's the sensible thing to do. I'd happily take a point from Fulham, anything above that will be a bonus, but even if we lose (which we could easily do, Fulham will be a big test for us), I won't be too disappointed, we're obviously going to lose one or two at home, and it wouldn't surprise me if Fulham was one of those.
With our midfield i can see nothing other than a defeat, sadly!! We have not strengthened this season, if anything we have weakened with the loss of Ctessy. In time the likes of Henshall, Bajner will strengthen but cant see MM playing them much this season. Sorry but a midfield of Ando, Skuse, Hyam and Tabb will bring nothing but mid table dull football at best!!
I've heard McCormack is out for Fulham. I wonder how up for this fixture Fulham will be. Could be the best time to play them!
Westy everyone said that last season but it turned out to be wrong!! I just hope we are up and running for the budgie match!!
Yeah lets hope we start this campaign better than 3 points from 15 Spanish. Any more thoughts!? I can't believe the season has come around. I'm kind of struggling to actually get the motivation to watch us play live. I must confess when I went to Reading away last season as a fan I really did feel like I was going through the motions. I do love town, I guess the fact we've been in this division since 2002 and the fact I've been to see us play Reading 4/5 times before may have had some impact. I did however when travelling love watching us play QPR ( loss ) Waford ( loss ) on the telly. Also, now I've been to a world cup and seen Real v Atletico in the Bernabeu everything just seems crap footy wise! I'll get my mojo back and be along to a town game soon I think.
I take youâre back from exotic foreign lands then Westy? What did you make of the TEFL profession? Unless Birmingham are as generous as they were last year, Iâm struggling to see where a pointâs coming from in August and neither can I see us finishing higher than last year. Though perhaps this somewhat depressive view comes from so many years living amongst the enemy. We have something that resembles a squad now, with proper players in every position with proper backup, but I canât see us challenging until MM has had another season rebuilding. Even then the nature of our purchases might condemn us to being perpetually behind too many team in terms of quality and creativity. None of this will get the legions of armchair fans back into the ground, especially with prices still so high.
My line up for the weekend Gerks Hewitt, Chambo, Berra, Parr Skuse, Hyam, Wordsworth Nouble, Bajner, Murphy Can't see this actually happening as Mick will likely play Ando and Tabb on the wings (dropping Bajner & Woody from my line up) Quietly optimistic about this one, I fancy we'll be difficult to break down and Fulham have been on a downward spiral for a while, optimistically think if we win we'll win big 3-0 but I think the realist in me is saying a tough 1-1 draw
TEFL was awesome, politics weren't. Trying to work out where I'll next be going to leave England for a while again, fed up living in England to be honest with you. I think tomorrows game should be interesting. Attendance will be shocking, I predict around 15,500 for a Saturday sadly. Awful! I think Banj will start and have a funny feeling Nouble may score when coming on. Going to predict a 2-1 hard fought victory for tomorrow. I think we're not the ideal start for a very talented Fulham side.
Team for tomorrow & prediction; Gerks Chambers Berra Smith Parr Tabb Hyam Skuse Henshall Murphy Bajner Bart Mings Anderson Bru Nouble Marriott Didsy 2--2 Didsy Henshall
looks like we are limited in the wide midfield positions with Hunt & Anderson both out. I can see him using Hewitt in front of Chambers and Tabb in front of Mings. Nouble and Murphy up front and 2 from Hyam/ Skuse/ Wordsworth in the middle. We will be solid and compact. TBH I have no idea how Fulham will play. You would think they should have a strong squad but they have made some strange decisions this summer so could go either way. Regardless I cant see either team running away with it so will go for a 2-1 either way. We will get our goal(s) from corners.
